3D app firm exec is new AMD VP

11 years ago

Advanced Micro Devices, this week signed on Roy Taylor as the company’s new corporate vice-president and head of global sales.

Roy joins AMD from Rightwarre, a Findland-based software firm that provides 3D user interface tools for mobile, automotive and other industries, where he was chief sales officer.

His arrival comes at a time when the California-based chip maker is weathering a series of executive departures from the company.

Most recently, Michael Goddar, AMD chief design engineer, left the firm for Samsung Electronics. No less than 26 executives are reported to have left AMD in recent months.

Taylor began his career in the component distribution business and founded Addtron, a firm representing sales and marketing for semiconductor leaders such as Aureal, IBM Microelectronics, NEC, Nexgen and other firms in Europe.

At AMD, he will be reporting to John Byre, senior vice-president and chief sales officer who is expecting Roy to help the troubled company boost its channel business.

Global computer chip sales have suffered a major decline which the industry has not seen in 11 years. One of the hardest hit makers is AMD which is reported to have lost US$157 million in the third quarter of 2012 and has had to lay off 15 per cent of its workforce last year.

“Roy is well known in the IT industry for his energy, his ability to identify new opportunities and his focus for delivering results,” Byrne said in a statement. “Roy’s enthusiasm and passion for technology evangelization will help strengthen our channel business as we bring new low-powered APUs and discrete GPUs to the market in 2013.”